9 spring cleaning tips for allergy sufferers

Dust the baseboards. Check! Tackle the pantry. Check! And the bookshelves, and the — achoo! Spring cleaning stirring up allergens?

It’s a double-edged sword. While tidy surfaces bring relief, cleaning them releases allergens into the air. How do you overcome this dilemma? Follow these tips from the pros.

1. Get to the root of the problemKnow your triggers and limits. Ear, nose and throat surgeon and board certified otolaryngologist Maureen Mulcahy of highly rated Lake Grove ENT in Lake Oswego, Ore., advises patients to get tested to identify specific allergens. “Then they can have a more targeted approach to cleaning,” she says.

2. Spring for HEPA filtersOnly sweep with a vacuum that contains a HEPA filter. And preferably someone who doesn’t suffer from allergies should take on the chore. But if it can’t be avoided, Mulcahy recommends you wear a mask. John Alzubi, owner of Smart Choice Cleaning in Springfield, Va., adds that wearing goggles helps, too.

3. Seek out water sourcesAny freestanding water in the home presents a mold hazard. “Spring cleaning is a good time to look at any potential water source in your house,” Mulcahy says. “If you have a leaky faucet or pipes that need better sealing, take care of that.”

Stocking up on all kinds of cleaners can give you sticker shock at the grocery store checkout. But you can make your house sparkle for less by relying on some homespun cleaning tricks that have stood the test of time. Here are 10 ways to save money as you do your chores plus some affordable cleaning products from Consumer Reports’ tests.

Go halfsies. When you buy a box of sponges or scouring pads, cut them all in half. Presto! You’ve automatically slashed your costs by 50 percent. The same trick also works for dryer sheets.

Banish dust with diapers. Old diapers make great dust cloths that won’t scratch surfaces. Our experts prefer diapers with an 8-ply thickness in the center and 4-ply on the sides. Fold the diaper in thirds so that it fits nicely in your hand. When one side gets dirty, refold to expose a clean surface. Diapers are soft and lint-free, and they can be reused again and again.